Typically mid-May to mid-November, with peak
early July through late September.
In season now
now
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Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.
Southern desert fields start in late spring; coastal and valley crops carry markets deep into fall.
At a glance
Early
From mid-May —
first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.
Peak
early July through late September — full stalls,
full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.
Late
Through mid-November — quantity for
preserving, and the stalls start dealing.
Season length
about 26 weeks end to end, shoulders included.
U-pick tomatoes in California
Common at diversified u-pick farms; carry them in a single layer so they do not bruise. The picking window tracks the band above: early
trips get clean fields, peak (early July through late September) is the sure bet,
late season is for quantity.
Farm-to-farm variation is real — up to two weeks either side of
the typical window. Plan the trip,
then call the farm before you drive.
Tomatoes
Look
Deep, even color from shoulder to tip with a slight gloss and no green starburst around the stem.
Feel
Heavy for its size and just barely soft under gentle palm pressure — never squeeze with fingertips.
Smell
A ripe tomato smells earthy and sweet right at the stem scar; no scent means it was picked too green.
Tip
Ask for 'seconds' late in the season — cosmetically scarred fruit tastes the same for half the price and cans beautifully.
Keeps
Keep on the counter, stem-side down, out of sun — 3 to 5 days; the fridge dulls flavor unless fruit is dead ripe.
Chasing the season?
Tomato peak moves across the map.
After this window, it lands next in:
In California, the tomato season typically runs mid-May to mid-November, with peak availability early July through late September. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.
When should I go u-pick tomatoes in California?
Aim for peak: early July through late September. An early trip around mid-May gets first choice of clean fields; a late one is for stock-the-freezer quantity. Any single farm can run up to two weeks either side of the chart — call before you drive.
How long does tomato season last in California?
about 26 weeks end to end — mid-May to mid-November. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.